Advanced Education Minister
Murray Coell appointed lawyer Deborah Lovett to conduct an inspection of
Lansbridge University’s operations in B.C. on Oct. 30, 2006. The inspector’s
report found that:
- Lansbridge appears to have advertised its
programs without consent under the Degree Authorization Act.
- Lansbridge provided information that could be
considered misleading in documents it submitted in its application to the
degree quality assessment board.
- Lansbridge failed to maintain financial security
as required by the degree authorization regulations and the terms and
conditions of consent.
- Lansbridge failed to comply with the consent
conditions relating to storage and security of student transcripts.
- Lansbridge failed to comply with the condition
that limits a student’s financial obligation to 12 months. The
university’s website and 2005-06 calendar stated that students could
receive a 25 per cent discount on their tuition if the full program amount
was paid in advance.
- Lansbridge failed to comply with the special
condition requiring it to retain an expert acceptable to the degree
quality assessment board.
- The state of Lansbridge’s student files raises
serious questions about administration, admissions standards, credit transfer
criteria and similar issues.
The minister has accepted the
inspector’s recommendations with enhancements, and has:
- Changed the consent period for Lansbridge to
operate in B.C., to a period that terminates effective May 1.
- Ordered Lansbridge not to enrol any new students
before consent ends.
- Ordered Lansbridge to advise its students, in
writing, of the closure date and post this information on its website.
- Ordered Lansbridge to refund tuition paid by
students for financial obligations beyond May 1.
- Ordered Lansbridge to work with its students to
facilitate transfer arrangements to other post secondary institutions.
- Begun the process to appoint a liaison officer
for students to provide further assistance and support by working with
students and other post-secondary institutions to make transfer
arrangements for students who will not have completed their study programs
by May 1.
-30-
